Brad Hodge weighs in on debate around Aussie batsmen

Brad Hodge has weighed in on the ongoing debate around batting in Australian cricket following Usman Khawaja and Shane Warne's recent comments.

While in commentary for Australia's recent T20 against South Africa, Warne suggested Aussie batting coach Graeme Hick may be responsible for the side's recent poor showings with the willow, characterised by some questionable shot selection.

Injured Test batsman Khawaja responded while in the box for first T20 against India, saying the game has changed and batsmen "play different shots now."

Warne then returned serve, calling that a "cop out" and disputing the assertion that the older generation were against innovation.

Few people are more qualified to comment on the subject than Hodge, a man whose career spanned more than 20 years and saw him excel in both the long and short forms of the game.

The Victorian boasts a first-class batting average of 49, while also going at 38 in T20.

Appearing on the latest podcast from The Grade Cricketer, Hodge could see both sides of the argument.

"The retort from Usman was that 'this is the way we play'," Hodge said.

"We can often criticise and critique the modern batter and one of those guys is Glenn Maxwell.

"I just admire this guy so much in the way that he can manipulate the ball around 360 degrees.

"I think as T20 players we actually have to adapt. I think we're falling behind in the modern techniques.

"Warney's spot on in saying 'you've got to have the basics down pat to be able to have courage to expand your game,' but we seem to be going the other way with expansion first and we haven't got the ability to actually defend a good ball.

"That's probably the way I read into it."

Widely considered one of the modern era's unluckiest players, Hodge only managed six Tests in his career, notching a double-ton on the way to a Test average of 56.

Hodge then carved a successful career as a short form specialist, starring in the IPL and Big Bash.

The 43-year-old says players have to find a balance in the modern game.

"I'm pretty sure if you asked a bowler in T20 'would you rather face someone who is technically correct or a guy that can do all the shots?' he's going to say 'I'll play against the guy who's technically correct' because you can keep him under wraps.

"A guy like AB de Villiers you just go 'Christ, what do I do now?'

"That's where we're trying to get to as a modern player and that's also the thing that gets you the bucks too.

"Get the basics right, do that properly and then once you get to a certain level like AB did, then you can expand your game."